High school service Location
Dominican Republic
Programs
The Dominican Republic is one of the most culturally alive places you will ever visit. With more than three decades of community partnerships, VISIONS puts you at the heart of it: building school classrooms, running a kids’ camp, and spending real time with people who will become genuine friends.
- Latin-Caribbean Vibrance
- Socializing, Games, Beach Outing & Tours
- School Construction & Work With Children
Program dates
Dominican Republic 1
Dates
June 15 - June 29
Length
15 Days
Service hours
45 - 55
Tuition
$4,990
Dominican Republic 2
Dates
July 3 - July 17
Length
15 Days
Service hours
45 - 55
Tuition
$4,990
Dominican Republic 1
Dates
June 15 - June 29
Length
15 Days
Service hours
45 - 55
Tuition
$4,990
Dominican Republic 2
Dates
July 3 - July 17
Length
15 Days
Service hours
45 - 55
Tuition
$4,990
My VISIONS trip to the Dominican Republic was the most life-changing experience of my life. Living in the community immersed us in a culture where family is the number one priority. By the end of the trip I feel like our group truly replicated this concept.
Connect deeply
Dominicans’ warmth and resilience have charmed VISIONS participants since 1991. You’ll feel it from the day you arrive.
friends become family
If you want true cultural immersion, the Dominican Republic delivers. Nowhere have we had more alumni stay in touch with local friends, or come back to visit. You will spend your time in classic Caribbean style—socializing, laughing, playing games with neighborhood kids, and doing all of it far from any tourist resort. It’s also the perfect opportunity to practice your Spanish, whether you’re brand new to the language or have a lot of experience.
EXPLORE ADVENTUROUSLY
The Dominican Republic is arguably the most environmentally diverse, culturally vibrant and historically rich country in the Caribbean, and it beckons you to visit.
Going Beyond
A country as varied as the DR delivers abundant adventures, a hallmark of VISIONS programs. We carve out time for beach visits, kayaking in mangroves, short hikes, chocolate-making, a ferry ride at the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lake, and baseball with local kids. This is the perfect program for teens seeking a profound experience, with merengue music in the background and memories that leave you wishing life could always feel as fun as your time in the DR.
Activities & excursions
- Swim in the Caribbean
- Immerse in Local Culture During a Day Stay with a Family
- Boat at Presa de Hatillo lake
- Tour a Cacao Farm & Make Chocolate
- Take Merengue & Salsa Dance Lessons
- Visit Los Haitises National Park & Boat Through Mangroves
I was able to get outside my comfort zone. I am so glad I picked this trip and that I got to experience all those amazing new things.
Charlotte Di Guglielmo
WORK HARD
Service matters
During our 35 years in the DR, VISIONS teens have made an impact beyond what we could have imagined. They have built homes, a medical clinic, community centers and schools. Today more than 3500 Dominican children attend classes in schools built by our students and local partners. The community’s gratitude shows in welcoming us into their lives and working alongside us. In addition to building classrooms, we run a day camp, design and paint murals, and work to improve the lives of animals by hosting spay and neuter clinics.
I had a blast in the DR! I believe the service built character for me and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I learned values that will stick with me for the rest of my life and I also learned not to take anything for granted.
Reviews
“I had a wonderful experience that I will never forget and made friends that I hope to keep forever. I wasn’t sure about going away from home for part of the summer but it was the best single experience of my life so far and there is so much about it that I’ve taken home with me in terms of gratitude and wanting to be part of my community in new ways.”
JUSTIN S.
“The community in Cotui welcomed us like no other. I truly felt like family and I left a part of my heart in the DR with the local friends there. It was heartbreaking to leave a place and a people I fell so in love with. I always felt welcome to talk to my leaders and they were great mentors. I hope I can return and be a leader some day, and I also plan on returning for another program while I’m in high school.”
ETHAN S.
“I loved the construction work — it was challenging but not too difficult, and I am proud of the amount and quality of the work we were able to accomplish. I loved getting to know the Dominicans and really appreciated the amount of time we spent with them. Every person I met was friendly, happy, and fun to talk to!! I had an absolutely amazing time!!”
SARAH B.
Local spotlight
where you’ll live in dominican republic
We live in Cotui, a historic locale that dates to the early 1500s. Off the beaten path in a welcoming neighborhood, VISIONS teens find their home away from home.
Our homebase is in Cotuí’s lively Quitasueño neighborhood, where daily life is enriched by the companionship of Dominican project partners and local kids. Afternoons often end with dominoes or street ball, and trips to the market offer authentic cultural connection. Working alongside local people while mutual respect bridges any language gaps. It’s an experience of friendship, growth and immersion.
Local spotlight
where you’ll live in dominican republic
Local team spotlight
Antonio and Marina, Local Staff
Antonio Espino—known to everyone as Toño—was born and raised in Cotui, and lives in the same neighborhood we call home. He comes from a family already woven into the VISIONS story: his sister and brother-in-law (Lidia & Santos) were among our original community partners in the DR. Toño has taken up that work as our project coordinator, connecting teens with service sites and serving as the kind of community liaison that only someone with deep local roots can be. When he is not with VISIONS, he is farming the same land his family has worked for generations.
Marina Florentino has been feeding VISIONS participants since 2021, and in that time she has become a beloved member of our DR family. She grew up in the rural outskirts of Cotui and spent 20 years as a cook at a lakeside restaurant before joining VISIONS. She is reserved, warmhearted, and quietly indispensable. Marina is the kind of person whose presence makes a group feel at home, and her cooking makes every dinner worth the effort we put in each day.
Related blog posts
Spotlight: Grace Hamill, VISIONS Alumni
Grace Hamill spent two weeks in the Dominican Republic with VISIONS—no phone, new friends, and an experience she calls one of the best of her life. Now she’s headed to Peru.
Animal Welfare, Environmental Integrity & What We Eat on VISIONS Programs
VISIONS is taking a careful look at the food we serve during our community service programs for high school students, and we aim to reduce our dependence on factory farm-based animal products by 75%.
Spotlight: Sufi Kreismann, 2025 VISIONS Dominican Republic Alum
A teen volunteer reflects on her life-changing summer with VISIONS in the Dominican Republic—immersing in local culture, building community, working with kids, and discovering new confidence in her future path.
Your VIA: How Teens Turn Service Into Purpose With VISIONS
VISIONS new VIA—Vision, Impact, Action—helps teens turn summer service into lasting purpose. Through reflection, real-world projects, and a tech-free environment, students gain confidence, clarity, and direction long after the program ends.
